Winnifred Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Winnifred is of Old English origin, meaning 'joy and peace'. It has evolved through various historical forms and is associated with the legend of Saint Winifred. The name embodies traits of warmth and kindness, with no direct biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the Middle Ages and is viewed positively in contemporary times.
The name Winnifred is most popular in Maine, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Winnifred has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Winnifred' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 600th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1026th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2236th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 7197th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 19434th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 18570th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3900th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Winnifred' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Winnifred"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɪnɪfrɛd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Winnifred is derived from the Old English elements 'wynn', meaning 'joy', and 'freoth', meaning 'peace' or 'safety'. Therefore, it can be interpreted as 'joy and peace'.
Meaning
joy and peace
Language Evolution
Winnifred, Winifred, Wynifred
Historical Usage
Winnifred gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly in Wales, due to the legend of Saint Winifred, a Welsh saint from the 7th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Winifred, Winnie, Freddie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Winnifred is considered a vintage name that carries a sense of charm and nostalgia, often associated with warmth and kindness.
Famous People
Winnifred Eaton (also known as Onoto Watanna), a Canadian author and screenwriter., Winnifred 'Winnie' Mandela, an influential South African anti-apartheid activist.
Explore More Winnifred Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Winnifred"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Winnifred"
"Winnifred" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 600th of 9107 | 2,533 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1026th of 9204 | 937 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2236th of 12526 | 464 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 7197th of 19264 | 93 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 19434th of 27321 | 19 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 18570th of 35406 | 48 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 3900th of 30306 | 464 |
Regional Popularity of "Winnifred" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Winnifred" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
30.58% 433rd/1416 |
36.55% 504th/1379 |
52.49% 1242nd/2366 |
36.08% 412th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
53.56% 828th/1546 |
52.70% 820th/1556 |
89.04% 2095th/2353 |
84.16% 1302nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
89.03% 2540th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
76.61% 3052nd/3984 |
- |
100.00% 6822nd/6822 |
77.15% 4842nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Winnifred"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Winnifred" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.